Wichita State basketball adds transfer center Cyr Malonga in recruiting
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wichita State added 6-foot-11 center Cyr Malonga from New Mexico State as a transfer.
- Malonga provides veteran backup minutes behind returning 7-foot-2 center Will Berg.
- His addition likely puts finishing touches on 4-man portal class for WSU’s 2026-27 roster.
In a little more than two weeks, head coach Paul Mills may have already checked off every item on Wichita State’s transfer portal shopping list.
The Shockers landed a commitment Friday from former New Mexico State center Cyr Malonga, a 6-foot-11 senior, giving Mills an experienced backup option at the 5 and potentially putting the finishing touches on a four-man portal class that has quickly reshaped WSU’s 2026-27 roster.
WSU had two scholarships still available, but only one clear hole left to address in the portal: center. With Bryce Heard’s signing announced Thursday and Malonga following a day later, the Shockers appear to have answered their last remaining questions.
Malonga is a veteran big man who gives them another body behind returning 7-foot-2 center Will Berg while allowing sophomore Noah Hill to keep developing and pushing for minutes.
He is not arriving with gaudy numbers, but that is not really the point of this addition.
Malonga started the first 15 games of the season last year at New Mexico State, averaging 5.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 15.8 minutes during that span. But his role faded in the second half of the season, as Malonga fell out of the rotation for a 16-16 Aggies team. Before that, he spent two years at East Carolina, where he played 46 games and made 18 starts, giving him prior experience in the American. Over three seasons, he has appeared in 70 career games with 34 starts.
His career averages do not suggest WSU found a like-for-like replacement for Emmanuel Okorafor, who remains in the transfer portal needing a waiver from the NCAA to play next season.
What it does suggest is that the Shockers found a veteran reserve center who understands his position, knows the physical demands of the American and can step into a clearly defined role. Malonga will likely be asked to be a lob threat on offense, a rim protector on defense and rebound well enough to soak up minutes so Berg does not have to carry too heavy of a load.
If Malonga does end up being the final portal piece, he completes a transfer haul that has come together quickly and with purpose.
The first domino was Jordan Frison, a dynamic, all-conference point guard from Chattanooga who will likely run the offense. The next portal addition was Jahari Long, a veteran who brings size, playmking and shooting to the perimeter. And then this week featured back-to-back days with commitments, as Heard finalized his commitment on Thursday followed by Malonga’s announcement on Friday.
WSU still has one scholarship available for its 2026-27 roster, but when it comes to the core rotation for next season, the Shockers may be finished.
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 5:04 PM.
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